Lessons Learned

After the 2006 debacle in Lebanon, the Israeli Air Force changed its ways in time for the Gaza War:

The air force tracked targets outside areas where Israeli ground troops were operating, and trained to find, and keep tabs on, key Hamas personnel and weapons (like rockets), and hit them when there weren’t many (preferably any) civilians around. Each brigade also had its own attack helicopter squadron, which the brigade commander could use any way he saw fit. But he also had in his headquarters, an experienced attack helicopter pilot to advise on how best to use the gunships. Again, the idea was to use aircraft and helicopters more quickly and accurately.

Unlike 2006, the air force did not underestimate the enemy this time.

That last bit was probably the hardest lesson to learn.